Folding table.



PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

. U. T. RIDGELY.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1906.

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PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

(L'T. RIDGELY. FOLDING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1906.

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No. 846,143. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

G. T. RIDGELY.

- FOLDING TABLE.

uruonxon FILED MAY 19, mos.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. RIDGELY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STAND- ARD TRIMMER COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FOLDING TABLE.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed May 19,1906. Serial No. 317,744.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. RIDGELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to folding tables, and more particularly to that class to tables known as paper-hangers paste-tables, although the invention is also applicable of tables of other kinds and for other uses.

My invention has for its object to provide a table which when set up shall be strong and firm and of ample supporting-surface, which may be readily folded and which when folded will occupya relatively small space, being extremely compact, and which will hold within its folded parts the straight-edge usually employed in trimming paper, accommodating the same without any cutting away or weakening of the parts of the table.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extension-leaffor increasing the supporting-surface of the table, which leaf may be readily placed and firmly held in position when the table is set up and which will be in closed with the table along with the straight edge when the table is folded.

To these and other ends my invention consists in certain novel features which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a table embodying my invention in one form, the same being shown set up ready for work with the extension-leaf in working position, one of the supportingbrackets for the extension-leaf being shown in dotted lines in non-working position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the table, one end bebeing shown in working position in full lines and partly folded in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of what is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the inside of the end battens of the table. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one of the end hinge members of the top detached. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same Fig. 7 is an end view of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the legs detached and partly broken away. Fig. 9 is a detail plan section taken on the line y y of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 10 is a plan View of the central joint of one of the cruciform braces. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 12 is an end view of the same. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the cen tral portion of the extension-leaf. Fig. 14 is a similar view of the cooperating part of the table-top. Fig. 15 is an edge view ofv the portion of the table-top shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2 z of Fig. 15 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view showing the table partly folded with the extension-leaf and straight-edge in position therein and ready for the final step of folding the top along its longitudinal axis, and Fig. 18 is a detail end elevation of the folded table.

In the said drawings, the table is shown as comprising a top or body divided centrally and longitudinally into two sections 1, which are hinged together at their meeting edges in the manner hereinafter described. Along the outer or free edge of each section there is secured a strip 2, extending the length of the table and dependlng or extending downward below the body of the top when the table is set up in working position. On the under side of the top there is secured thereto at each end a cleat 3, said cleats being also divided into two sections each, transversely of the cleat and in the plane of division of the sections of the top. A similar central cleat 4 is also similarly divided, so as to consist of two sections likewise. These cleats serve as means for the attachment of the hinges which connect the top sections. Each end hinge consists of two similar members, each comprising a bar 5, which fits against and is secured to the inner vertical face of the corresponding mg broken away, the legs of the other end i cleat-section 3, along which it extends for practically the whole of its length. The meeting ends of these bars 5 are provided with hinge-lugs 6, which overlap each other and receive a pivot 7, which completes the hinge. by means of screws 8, or in any other suitable manner. The central batten 4 is pro vided with a similar hinge, the bars of which are, however, relatively short, being indicated by the reference-numeral 9 and The bars 5 are secured to thecleatsh being provided with hinge-lugs 1.0, which receive a pivot 11. Each end of the table has hinged thereto two legs 1.2, said legs being hinged at their upper ends so as to fold into a plane parallel with the top. To this end each bar 5 is provided with pivot-lugs 13 and 14, while each leg has secured to its inner side near the top a bar or strap 15, which extends up above the upper end of the leg to form a pivot-lug 16, which coop erates with the pivot-lug 13 on the bar 5, the two being connected by a pivot 17. Formed in one piece with the bar 5 is a diverging brace-bar 18, terminating at its upper end in a pivot-lug 19, which cooperates with the pivot-lug 14 on the bar 5, the two being connected by a pivot 20. Each leg is thus firmly connected to the top by means of a pivotal connection of great durability and strength. The bar 15 has an extension 21, lying across the upper end of the leg 1.2, and a downward extension 22, lying along the front side of the leg, thus 'lirmly fitting and holding to the leg the entire casting which carries the pivot-lugs 16 and 19, said casting being composed of the members 15, 18, 21, and 22 and being secured to the leg by means of screws 23 or in any other suitable manner. Said casting further comprises a pivot-lug 24, arranged in a plane at right angles to the pivot-lug 16 and 19 and serving as a connection and support for the extension-bracket hereinafter referred to.

Each pair of legs 12 have their lower ends connected by means of an end brace or spacing-brace 25, composed of two sections, centrally connected by means of a pivot-joint 26. hen the table is set up, this pivotjoint 26 is so located that its pivotal axis is at right angles to the pivots 7 and 11, which connect the top sections. The sections of these spacing-braces are secured to the legs by means of u wardly-extending terminal extensions 27, astened to the inner faces of the legs by screws 28.

The free lower ends of the legs are braced against inward and upward movement toward the top by means of braces connecting said ends and top. These braces are shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, and are cruciform, pivoted at their ends to the top and legs, respectively, and again pivoted at their intersections upon two pivots having their axes arranged at right angles to each other. Each cruciform brace comprises two upwardly-converging rods 29, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to the legs by means of the upper screws 28, which connect the spacing-braces 25 thereto. The upper ends of the rods 29 are pivotally connected, by means of pivots 30, with opposite parallel hinge-plates 31, which latter have stop projections 32', extending over the upper sides of the rods 29 pivotal movement of said rods relatively to the hinge-plates in one direction. The hingeplates 31. are provided with hinge-lugs 33, which overlap each other and receive a pivot 34, which pivot extends at right angles to the pivots 30. The rods 29 are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the hinge-plates 31, and to the upper ends of said hingeplates there are secured the lower converging ends of rods 35, the upper ends of which are pivoted to lugs 36, secured to the under side of the table-top on opposite sides of the plane of division of the sections thereof. As a convenient means ior rigidly securing the ends of the rods 35 to the hinge-plates 31 these latter are provided with marginal flanges 37 on their upper ends, between which flanges the flattened ends of the tubes 35 fit, as in a seat, in which they are secured by rivets 33.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that when the table is set up each rod 35 constitutes, in effect, an extension of the corresponding rod 29 with which it is in alinement, and it will also be noted that although the several rods of which the brace is composed are so pivoted or hinged together as to permit them to fold in the manner hereinafterdescribed, nevertheless when the table is set up said rods act as crossbraces tied at their intersections and hold. the lower ends of the legs firmly and rigidly in position relatively to the top or body of the table.

In order to provide for an enlarged supporting-surface for the table, I employ an extension-leaf, (indicated as a whole by the reference-numeral 39.) This extension-leaf when in position at the rear of the table is supported by means of a bracket at each end arranged to fold so as to lie alongside of the corresponding leg. To each lug 24 there is pivoted one end of a rod 40, to the other end of which rod there is pivoted a similar rod 41. These rods are preferably formed of tubing, as shown, although-they may be otherwise constructed. In the rear face of each rear leg 12 there is formed a recess 42, adapted to receive the free end of the rod 41 and support the same and the rod 40 in the position shown in Fig. 1., in which position the rod 40, passing through a slot 4O in the strip 2, constitutes a horizontal support for one end of the extension-leaf 39, while each rod 41 constitutes a brace and support for the rod 40, the two together forming a folding bracket for that end of the extension-leaf. To hold the rods 41 more firmly in position, the tableleg is provided with. a pin or projection 43,

; extending out into the recess 42 and adapted to enter the hollow interior of the end of the red 41. When not in use, these brackets are supported in the position shown in Fig. 8 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, extending and by their contact therewith limiting the downward parallel with the corresponding legs 12, and held in position relatively to the I gins of the table are properly spaced apart same by means of spring-clips 44. clips, as shown in detail in Fig. 9, are secured to the rear faces of the rear legs 12 and have resilient curved arms 45, which approach each other at their nearest point to a distance less than the diameter of the rod 41, so that said rod, while it may readily be forced into position within the clip or pulled out from the same, the resilient arms yielding to permit this are when placed within the clip, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, held against accidental displacement, being caused to maintain their position of parallelism with the legs while the table is folded and being transported.

The folding brackets just described support the table from underneath, but do not act to prevent its horizontal displacement.

This latter result is obtained by the construction shown more particularly in Figs. 13 to 16 of the drawings, inclusive. In this construction the eXtension-leaf 39 is provided with a headed projection 46, preferably in the form of a screw projecting from the forward edge of said leaf. The rear edge of the table-top is recessed or cut away, as indicated at 47, and is provided with a locking-plate 48, secured adjacent to and overlapping the recess 47 and sunk flush with the rear edge of the top. This locking-plate has a slot 49 of a width such. as to receive the shank 50 of the headed projection 46, said headed projection being first introduced into the recess 47 and then moved laterally until its shank enters the slot 49, the head being held within the recess by the locking-plate, and thus preventing displacement of the extension-leaf until these parts are disengaged by a reversal of the engaging movement.

The table thus constructed is arranged to fold compactly into a very small space. As suming that the table is set up ready for use, the folding is accomplished by first folding the legs to a position of parallelism with the top. This is effected by breaking the joints of the cruciform braces at the pivots 30 in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, these joints being capable of bending in the direction there indicated, but being prevented from bending in the opposite direction by the stops 32. The legs being folded into parallelism with the top and the table inverted, it will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 17 that the pivots 34 are now in alinement with the pivots 7 and that they stand a sufficient distance above the tabletop and battens to furnish ample space for the storage within the folded table of the extension-leaf 39, which is shown in position in said Fig. 17 and the paperhangers. straightedge 51, which is also similarly shown in position. to bring them up to the plane of the line of the pivots 7 and 34, so that the lateral mar- These I The strips 2 are of a height such as l and closed when folded. This accommoda tion of the extension-leaf and straight-edge is accomplished, moreover, without any outtingor notching and consequent weakening of the battens. The two sections of the table, after the extension-leaf and straightedge are in place, as shown in Fig. 17, may be folded together into the form shown in Fig. 18, and may be fastened together when so folded by means of hooks 52 on one member, engaging eyes 53 on the other member. When so folded, the entire table makes a compact and light package, which can be readily carried and which includes within itself the extension-leaf and straight-edge.

lt will be observed that the hinge-bars 5, extending as they do practically the entire length of the end battens, serve to greatly strengthen and reinforce said battens, preventing them and the table-top from warping, as they would otherwise be apt to do, owing to the fact that the paper laid upon the table is moist from the paste which it carries and communicates its moisture to the table-top, which latter cannot be made waterproof, because it would then be too smooth and slippery to present a proper support for the paper. Furthermore, these metallic reinforcing-strips enable me to employ thinner and lighter battens and top boards without sacrificing the strength and durability of the table, thereby rendering the table lighter and easier to carry. It will also be noted that the metallic hinge-bars are joined together with what is known as a rulejoint, in which the end surfaces of the metallic hinge members meet squarely face to face when the top sections are extended in the same plane, and this construction maintains the horizontality of the top when extended and prevents sagging of the top along the line of fold, a difficulty which has always been present where reliance is placed upon the abutting of the meeting ends of the wooden battens to hold the two top sections horizontally in the same plane.

The front legs 12 have secured to their front faces castings 54, comprising hookpockets 55 to receive the straight-edge when not in use and hooks 56, which may be con veniently employed to receive the shears or similar tools when it is desired to hang these latter out of the way.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding table of the character described, comprising a top divided longitudinally into two equal sections arranged to fold along the line of division, said sections being provided with battens, and bars secured to the lateral edges of said battens and having projecting hinge-lugs pivotally connected, said lugs projecting to an extent such as to leave a clear space between the battens when the sections are folded to receive a straightedge'or the like, the sections being provided with marginal strips to space them apart when folded, and fastening devices for securing the sections when folded, substantially as described.

2. A folding table of the character described, comprising a top divided longitudinally into two equal sections arranged to fold along the line of division, said sections being provided with battens, and bars secured to the lateral edges of said battens and having projecting hinge-lugs pivotally connected, said lugs projecting to an extent such as to leave a clear space between the battens when the sections are folded to receive a straight-edge or the like, legs pivoted to said bars and arranged to fold against the top flush with the battens, strips secured to the margins of the sections to space them apart when folded, and fastening devices for securing the sections when folded, substantially as described.

3. A folding table of the character described, comprising a top dividedlongitudinally into two equal sections arranged to fold along the line of division, said sections being provided with battens, and bars secured to the lateral edges of said battens and having projecting hinge-lugs pivotally connected, said lugs projecting to an extent such as to leave a clear space between the battens when the sections are folded, legs arranged to fold against the top flush with the battens, folding brackets carried by the rear legs, and an extension-leaf adapted to be supported on said brackets and to be detachably connected with the rear top section, said extensionleaf being adapted to lie within the space between the top sections when folded, said top sections having marginal spacing-strips pro vided. with fastening devices, substantially as described.

4. In a folding table of the character described, a top divided longitudinally and provided at its ends with battens divided in the same plane, bars extending longitudinally of the inner edges of said battens and secured thereto, said bars having pivoted hinge-lugs at their meeting ends and pivot-lugs for the legs projecting inwardly from their outer portions, and legs arranged in pairs at each end of the top, each leg having secured to its upper end a metallic fitting embracing the sides and top of the leg, the inner side member of said fitting having a direct upward extension forming a pivot-lug connected to one of the pivot-lugs of the corresponding batten-bar, said side member having a diverging bracebar extending from its lower portion upward and provided at its upper end with a pivotlug pivotally connected to the other pivotlug of the battenbar, substantially as described.

5. In a folding table of the character de scribed, the combination, with a top divided centrally into two longitudinal sections hinged to fold along the line of division, of legs pivoted in pairs to each end of the top, one to each section, and cruciform braces connecting the lower portions of the legs to the under side of the top, said braces being pivoted at their ends to the legs and the tabletop, and also pivoted to each other at their intersections to fold around two pivotal arms at right angles to each other, substantially as described.

6. In a folding table of the character described the combination, with a top divided centrally into two longitudinal sections hinged to fold along the line of division, of legs pivoted in pairs to each end of the top, one to each section, and cruciform braces pivoted at their lower end to the lower portions of the legs and at their upper ends to the under side of the top, said braces being pivoted together at their intersections to fold upwardly but not downwardly, and being also pivoted together at their intersections by means of pivots which are coincident with the pivotal axis of the top sections when the legs are folded, substantially as described.

7. In a folding table of the character described, the combination, with a hinged sectional top, and legs hinged to different sections thereof, of cruciform braces between the legs and top, each brace comprising two pairs of converging rods pivoted at their diverging ends to the legs and top respectively, and hinge-plates to which the converging ends of one pair are pivoted and the converging ends of the other pair are rigidly fastened, said pivot-plates being provided with hinge-lugs and a connecting-pivot arranged at right angles to the pivotal axis of the rods, substantially as described.

8. In a folding table of the character described, the combination, with a hinged sectional top, and legs hinged to different sections thereof, of cruciform braces between the legs and top, each brace comprising two pairs of converging rods pivoted at their diverging ends to the legs and top respectively, and hinge-plates to which the converging ends of one pair are pivoted and the converging ends ofthe other pair are rigidly fastened, said pivot-plates being provided with hinge-lugs and a connecting-pivot arranged at right angles to the pivotal axis of the rods, said hinge-plates being also provided with stop projections formed integral therewith and extending over the pivoted rods, substantially as described.

9. In a folding table of the character described, a top provided with hinged legs, in combination with an extension-leaf, and folding brackets for supporting said leaf, each bracket comprising a supporting-rod pivoted to the upper end of the corresponding rear leg and a brace-rod pivoted to the end of the supporting-rod, each rear leg being provided with a socket to receive the end of the bracerod when in working position, and a springclip to hold the brace-rod and supporting-rod parallel with the legs when in folded position, substantially as described.

10. In a table of the character described, a top, and folding legs, in combination with an extension-leaf, and folding brackets for supporting said leaf, each bracket comprising a supporting-rod pivoted at one end to the upper end of a leg, and a bracerod pivoted to the other end of the supporting-rod and having a recess at its free end, the leg being pro vided with a recess to receive the free end of the brace-rod and having a pin extending into said recess and adapted to enter the recess in the end of the supporting-rod, substantially as described.

11. In a folding table of the character described, a top, and legs hinged thereto, folding brackets secured to said legs and adapted to support an extension leaf, in combination with an extension-leaf, the meeting edges of the leaf and top being provided with fastening devices, the one comprising a projection having a shank and enlarged head, the other provided with a recess and a locking-plate adjacent thereto and having a slot to fit the shank of the projection, substantially as described.

12. In a folding table of the character described, atop divided longitudinally into two equal sections arranged to fold along the line of division, said sections being provided with battens divided in the same plane, metallic reinforcing hinge-bars extending longitudinally of the inner vertical edges of said battens and secured thereto, and hinge-lugs located at the meeting ends of said bars, pivotallyconnected, and provided with opposed surfaces which meet when the top sections are extended horizontally, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES T. RIDGELY.

Witnesses:

E. O. HAGAN, IRVINE MILLER. 

